Improvement in brakes for fire-trucks



M. S. CLARK. I

BRAKE FOR FIRE-TRUCK. lN,.181,643. Patented Aug.z9,1`a7s.

.PErERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. wgsMINGYON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT (DEEIGEo MINFORD S. CLARK, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. l

IMPROVEMENT IN BRAKES FOR FIRE-TRUCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 181,643, dated August 29, 1876; application led July 31, 1876.

To all whom Ait 'may concern:

Be it known that I, MINFORD S. CLARK, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a -new and Improved Brake for Fire-Trucks, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a top `view, and Fig. 2 a vertical longitudinal section on the linee c, Fig. l, of a iretruck with my improved brake.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The invention relates to an improved brake for tiretrucks, that is etfectually worked by the attendant at the steering-wheel, and capable of being applied at any position of the iifth or steering wheel of the truck.

The invention consists of a'brake mechanism which swings in supportingarms of the fth or steering wheel at the hind part of the truck, and is operated by intermediate crank shafts and rods, by a fulcrumed treadle from the seat of the attendant. 'lhe motion-transmitting crank-shafts are swung in hearings of the fifth-wheel and of the truck-frame, and connected by a swivel-chain.

In the drawing, A represents a hookandladder truck of the usual construction, which is steered by a hand-wheel, with pinion engag- 'lng the toothed fifth-wheel at the hind part of the truck. The truck is steered by an attendant, who is seated at the hind part of the truck. Below the sea-t, to be worked by-the feet of the steersman, is arranged a treadlerod, B, which, by intermediate connection, operates a swinging brake mechanism, C, which is intended to overcome the difficulty hitherto experienced in steering and guiding this class of trucks.

No brakes have heretofore been used for the hind wheels of hook-and-ladder trucks, so that the controlling of the same in going downhill was dicult and liable to danger and accident.

My brake arrangement is capable of being applied to the Wheels in any position of the hind wheels by connecting the lfulcrurned treadle B, by suitable lever-rods, first with a crank shaft, D, swinging in bearings of the truck-frame A, and then, by a central crankarm and swivel-chain, E, with the center crank of a second crank-shaft, D', that turns in supports of the fifth-Wheel F. The crank-arms of shaft D are then connected, by pivot-rods a., with crank-arms of the brake-rod G, which is supported in strong arms of the fifth-wheel. Suitable springs b, attached to the crank-arms of the brake-rod, bear on the pivot-rods, and produce the release ofthe brake-shoes C from the wheels as soon as the operating treadle- `rod B is released by the steersman.

As the lower part of the mechanismnamely, brake-rod and lower crank-shaft-is supported on the fth-wheel, and moved with the same, and as the upper part of the operating mechanism is applied to the truck-fram e, the swivel-chain forms the connecting-link of the brake mechanism, and secures, by its adjustability to the relative change of position of fifth-wheel and truck-frame, the positive action of the brake without straining or breaking. The hook-and-ladder truck is thereby more completely kept in hand and accidents avoided.

The ladders can be taken off and put on without disturbing any portion of the brakes.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination of the fulcrumed treadle and crank-shaft of the truck-frame, by a connecting swivel-chain, with the crank-shaft and springacted brake mechanism of the fifthwheel, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

MINFORD S. CLARK.

Witnesses PAUL GoEPEL, ALEX. F. ROBERTS. 

